Your Privacy! [Rules Modified 12 December 2020]

When looking for a forum for us, I made it a point to make sure we'd have one that doesn't have a messed up privacy policy. That left out some of the big names like ProBoards, and it may mean we don't have quite the functionality as those bigger ones do, but forgoing privacy for functionality is NOT something I'm willing to do!
That said, there are still some things to keep in mind:

1. There is a Google AdSense option in the Options. Please be sure this is switched off! Google is essentially big-tech spyware. Avoid it every chance you get.
-As a sidenote, if you've been using Google as your search engine, please consider switching to https://www.startpage.com/ or https://duckduckgo.com/, both of which preserve your privacy!

2. There is an option to show your email. This is disabled by default, but please check and make sure it is disabled, and never enable it. This is because newbies will be able to view this information as soon as they join the forum, which may oftentimes be before we know whether they're good folks or not. Best not to be sharing our email addresses with -essentially- strangers!

3. Please use discretion if posting any personally identifying information. As a rule of thumb, you should never use your real surname (last name) online. This was in all the news back in the day, when the more modern version of the internet started to become popular. Unfortunately, these warnings stopped in the media long ago. Nevertheless, it's still wise! I also advise against posting your address, phone number, etcetera. Do note that this is not a public forum (though this "Forum Rules" section IS public), and there are areas that are only visible to full Neighbourhood members. Bear this in mind when posting, and use your best judgement when choosing what to post where.

4. There is a Private Message option here. Should you wish to share contact information with another member, please use this option, but do this at your own risk! Make sure you feel you can trust the person with whom you are sharing.

5. Should you notice personal information has been posted by anyone in a public or newbie section, or should you accidentally do it yourself and for whatever reason be unable to remove it, please report it to me or a moderator to be removed.

6. Should you post information that identifies you in any section publicly viewable or viewable by newbies, it will be removed as soon as it's noticed.

7. Please help keep one another safe. It's important we all look out for one another!

8. If you are under 18, please ask your parent or guardian's permission before sharing any personally identifying information anywhere, whether in this forum or otherwise!

Thank You!

[Green Acres]

When looking for a forum for us, I made it a point to make sure we'd have one that doesn't have a messed up privacy policy. That left out some of the big names like ProBoards, and it may mean we don't have quite the functionality as those bigger ones do, but forgoing privacy for functionality is NOT something I'm willing to do!
That said, there are still some things to keep in mind:

1. There is a Google AdSense option in the Options. Please be sure this is switched off! Google is essentially big-tech spyware. Avoid it every chance you get.
-As a sidenote, if you've been using Google as your search engine, please consider switching to https://www.startpage.com/ or https://duckduckgo.com/, both of which preserve your privacy!

2. There is an option to show your email. This is disabled by default, but please check and make sure it is disabled, and never enable it. This is because newbies will be able to view this information as soon as they join the forum, which may oftentimes be before we know whether they're good folks or not. Best not to be sharing our email addresses with -essentially- strangers!

3. Please use discretion if posting any personally identifying information. As a rule of thumb, you should never use your real surname (last name) online. This was in all the news back in the day, when the more modern version of the internet started to become popular. Unfortunately, these warnings stopped in the media long ago. Nevertheless, it's still wise! I also advise against posting your address, phone number, etcetera. Do note that this is not a public forum (though this "Forum Rules" section IS public), and there are areas that are only visible to full Neighbourhood members. Bear this in mind when posting, and use your best judgement when choosing what to post where.

4. There is a Private Message option here. Should you wish to share contact information with another member, please use this option, but do this at your own risk! Make sure you feel you can trust the person with whom you are sharing.

5. Should you notice personal information has been posted by anyone in a public or newbie section, or should you accidentally do it yourself and for whatever reason be unable to remove it, please report it to me or a moderator to be removed.

6. Should you post information that identifies you in any section publicly viewable or viewable by newbies, it will be removed as soon as it's noticed.

7. Please help keep one another safe. It's important we all look out for one another!

8. If you are under 18, please ask your parent or guardian's permission before sharing any personally identifying information anywhere, whether in this forum or otherwise!

Thank You!